Conversation about school community without phone, Interstate 81 diversions: THE SUMMARY

Cell Phone Free Education in Waynesboro

WAYNESBORO – The Virginia Department of Education is hosting a community conversation about cell phone-free education in Waynesboro.

The conversation follows Governor Glenn Youngkin’s Executive Order 33, which aims to reduce or eliminate cell phone use in schools and limit the impact of smartphone use on the mental health of K-12 students.

On July 31 at 10:00 a.m., the ongoing Commonwealth Conversations series on this topic will come to Kate Collins Middle School. It is open to parents, teachers, and all interested community members.

“Virginians who would like to register to join the conversation at these events, learn more about Executive Order 33, or share feedback on cell phone-free education can visit Virginia’s Cell Phone-Free Education webpage,” the release said.

SAW Housing Summit now available online

When The News Leader last reported, no video footage of the SAW Housing Summit was available.

The video has since been uploaded to the SAW Housing website, where anyone interested in the local housing market can find details on Staunton, Augusta County and Waynesboro.

The video is available online here.

Augusta County Highway Detours and Road Closures

Work is underway on the Barterbrook Road Bridge over Interstate 81 in Augusta County.

Contractors will use cranes to place steel girders across Interstate 81 near mile marker 221. Instead of closing the interstate, crews will use a “slow roll” traffic management operation, reducing speeds to 10 mph to create gaps. The gaps allow crews to work safely, away from traffic. Traffic can also be temporarily stopped and held by a vehicle ahead in each lane.

“The Route 635 overpass bridge is to be replaced as part of a project to build a new auxiliary lane on southbound I-81 between Exit 221 (I-64 interchange) and Exit 220 (Route 262 south),” the release said. “Route 635 in the area of the bridge over I-81 will be closed until mid-2025 due to the bridge replacement.”

The closing schedule is as follows:

Monday to Wednesday evenings (July 29-31)

The left lane of I-81 northbound and southbound will be closed from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. to allow for the staging of equipment, materials and personnel.
Northbound I-81 will be completely closed from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. During this time, drivers on northbound I-81 must detour at Exit 220 and Route 262 (Woodrow Wilson Parkway) to bypass Staunton. They will rejoin I-81 at Exit 225. Northbound I-81 drivers who wish to join I-64 eastbound at Exit 221 will follow the detour route and then take I-81 south to Exit 221.
Each morning immediately following the full closures, the left lane of I-81 northbound will be closed from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m.

Thursday evening (August 1)

The left lane of I-81 southbound will be closed from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. to allow for the staging of equipment, materials and personnel.
Between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., southbound I-81 will be closed periodically, for no longer than 20 minutes at a time. During these closures, Virginia State Police will provide slow-moving traffic control (rolling roadblocks) on southbound I-81 between Exits 225 and 220, and westbound I-64 between Exit 91 and the I-81 interchange.
Immediately after the slow curves, the left lane of southbound I-81 will be closed from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. Friday.

Friday evening (August 2)

The left lane of I-81 southbound will be closed from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. to allow for the staging of equipment, materials and personnel.
Between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., southbound I-81 will be closed periodically, for no longer than 20 minutes at a time. During these closures, Virginia State Police will provide slow-moving traffic control (rolling roadblocks) on southbound I-81 between Exits 225 and 220, and westbound I-64 between Exit 91 and the I-81 interchange.
Immediately after the slow curves, the left lane of southbound I-81 will be closed from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. Saturday.

VDOT traffic warnings for the week of July 22 to July 26

STAUNTON – The following is a list of highway construction that could impact traffic in the Staunton Transportation District over the next several weeks. Scheduled work is subject to change due to inclement weather and material supplies. Motorists are advised to be aware of slow-moving tractors during mowing operations. Be alert for periodic changes in traffic patterns and lane closures when driving through a work zone.

INTERSTATEE64

No lanes are closed.

INTERSTATE 81

Milestone 205 to 211Northbound – Night-time closures of one lane for road resurfacing, from 8pm to 7am through August 15.
*UPDATE* Milestone 207 to 210Northbound – Right-hand verge closures for repair work, from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday to Thursday.
Milestone 214 to 210southbound – Alternating lane closures overnight for milling and paving work, from 8:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. through Thursday night. Traffic on exit 213 will be diverted while the on-ramp is being asphalted.
*UPDATE* Milestone 220 to 221Northbound and Southbound – Overnight southbound left lane closures for equipment and materials storage from 8:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Monday through Thursday. Shoulder closures 24/7 for bridge replacement and road construction as part of the I-81 Southbound Auxiliary Lane Project. 60 mph work zone speed limit. Expected completion summer 2025.
*NEW* Milestone 221 to 222Northbound – Alternating lane closures at night for paving of bridge access roads, from 8pm to 7am Monday through Thursday.
Mile marker 221 to 227Northbound and Southbound – Right and left shoulder closures 24/7 through spring 2026. 60 mph work zone speed limit. Traffic restrictions in place for the I-81 widening project.

HIGHWAYS

*NEW* Route 42 (Little Calf Pasture Highway) – Road closures at the Route 1130 (East Village Lane) intersection for traffic sign construction, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
*NEW* Route 250 (West Main Street, Waynesboro) – Alternating eastbound and westbound lane closures between Route 1007 (Stoneridge Drive) and Hopeman Parkway for rock and soil testing, from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. July 28 through August 3.
*NEW* Route 254 (Parkersburg Turnpike) – Westbound right shoulder closures near the Route 262 (Woodrow Wilson Parkway) interchange due to traffic sign construction, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

SECONDARY ROADS

*NEW* Route 602 (Summerdean Road) – Control traffic between Route 603 (Cales Spring Road) and Route 876 (Mish Barn Road) due to utility work, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. July 22 through August 1.
*NEW* Route 608 (Long Meadow Road) – Closed between Route 796 (Kiddsville Road) and Route 795 (Entry School Road) for cross pipe replacement at various locations, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Please follow posted detours.
*NEW* Route 610 (Howardsville Turnpike) – Direct traffic between Route 916 (View Drive) and Route 634 (China Clay Road) due to overhead utility work, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. July 22 through August 1.
Route 624 (South Delphine Avenue, Waynesboro) – Shoulder closures between South Oak Lane and Chinquapin Drive due to construction work related to the Waynesboro Southern Corridor, through May 2025.
Route 635 (Barterbrook Road) – Closed between I-81 frontage roads (FR-217 and FR-218) for bridge replacement as part of I-81 southbound auxiliary lane project. Follow posted detour. Expected completion summer 2025.
*NEW* Route 664 (Reeds Gap Road) – Control traffic between Route 814 (Love Road) and Blue Ridge Parkway due to utility work, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. July 22 through August 1.
Route 664 (Mount Torrey Road) – Occasional traffic controls between Route 624 (Lyndhurst Road) and Route 610 (Howardsville Turnpike) for utility work, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. through September 30.
Route 664 (Lyndhurst Road, Waynesboro) – Shoulder closures between Miami Avenue and Purdue Street due to construction work related to the Waynesboro Southern Corridor, through June 2025.
Route 682 (McKinley Road) – Direct traffic between Route 252 (Middlebrook Road) and Route 679 (Campbells Hollow Road) due to utility work, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. through Thursday.
Different roads – Mobile traffic control for mowing work. Traffic controller for drainage work, tree removal, roadside repairs, paving repairs and shrub mowing, from 7:30 to 15:00 on weekdays.